Apparatus for packing joints



Patented July lf), 19:28.

-l UITE RALPH El CHAPMAN, OF BROQKLYN, NEW YORK,

APPARATUS FOR PACKING JorNTs.

Application filed March 24, 1923. Serial No 627,510.

Thepresent invention relates generally to the packing of joints andparticularly to apparatus for forcing a. metallic packing such as leadinto the packing space between adjacent pipe sections; the object of theinvention being to provide improved apparatus for this purpose whichwill enable such a joint to be packed rapidly and under such highpressure as to secure a perfect fluid tight joint. c

The invention may be conveniently' illustrated and described linconnection with the flexibly jointed bell and spigot type of pipe whichis made by providing thcibell flange with an interior surfacecorresponding to a segment of a sphere and a spigot end for insertiontherein so that when adjacent seetions are placed together the spigotend will extend into the bell end leaving a space to be filled with asuitable packing material such as lead which is attached to the spigotend and forms a segment of avsphere contacting with the interior surfaceof the bell.

It has been proposed to pack joints of this character with lead and inthe case of joints of pipes of large diameter. to introduce apart of thepacking material in molten condition and then force additional materialinto the joint under sufliciently high pres sure to cause the metal toflow to compensate for shrinkage and insure a tight joint. Heretoforepackingihas been forced into the joint by means of screws or screw boltsthreaded into holes through the outer or bell flange member of the pipejoint. yThis packing process has been slow inasmuch as it involves therepeated turning in and out of the screws. Moreover the screwsoftenbreak and have to be drilled out thus causing additional delay.

The nature and objects of the invention will be more clearly understoodfrom a description of a selected embodiment thereof for the purposes ofwhich description reference should be had to the accompanyingr drawingswherein- Figure l, is a plan view of a section of pipe as laid.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the pipe joint showing connected theretoapparatus for forcing. lead into the joint, such apparaltus beingconstructed in accordance with and embodying the principlesy of theinvention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of a suitable plug designed to be usedfor rpermanently plugging` the holes after the packing of the joint hasbeen completed.

The drawings show a pipe joint formed between a bell flange 5 having aninterior spherical surface 6 and a spigot 7 fitting therein and providedwith grooves 8,*9 for1 receiving the packing material, together withapparat-us for forcing packing material into the joint connected inoperative relation to the bell flange. It is eontemplated'thatordinarily a part of the packing 10 such as lead will becast in of thepacking .will be forced intov the joint forming a dense compact massextending annular-ly around the joint as indicated at 1l. AIn therstructure illustrated two rows of holes 12, 13 are providedin the bellflange and through these holes the packing is forced into' the joint.

Means are provided for holding ing apparatus, hereinafter described7 vinoperative relation with the, pipe the said means herein taking the formof a. nipple 15 which may be screwed into the flange at any one of theholes.l The nipple shownnot lonly constitutesmeans for the attachment ofthe packing apparatus but may be furnished with an extension or bushing15 havinga smooth bore to formacylinder in which the plunger of thepacking apparatus may operate if the hole in the pipe'is not adapted toactas such a cylinder. If it'isv desired to arrange the plungerso thatit will pass through vthe bell flange the part vof the nipple which actsas acylinder for the plunger may belocated within ythe flange as'hereinshown. One such nipple may be used and Vmoved fromhole to hole as thepacking proceeds or a series of nipples, one for each the joint as bypouring y vit while in4 molten Condition and that the rest the packholemay be provided as convenience may y require.

When nipples of the character vherein shown are used the holes in theflange 5 are preferably tapered as at 17 for a portion of their lengthand threaded as at 18, -to provide for the attachment of the nipple andultimately for attachment of the` plugs 19 which permanently close theholes when the packing operation is completed. The

vextension 15 of the nipple is correspondingly tapered and formed with asufficient number of threads to insure the desired connection to thebell flange. Y

In case the nipple as illustrated is used it is 24 of relatively smallAthe lead orotherpacking into the joint.

provided at its outer end withfa flange to which the packing apparatusis attachable, preferably removably. As shown attachment is provided byforming the nipple flange with tWo oppositewsegments Q0, 20, and thepacking apparatus with inturned hooks or segmental flanges 2Q,.Q2-adapted to be engaged behind the segmental flanges ofthe nipple. Bythis arrangement the packing apparatus is easily connected to anddisconnected from the nipple so that slugs of lead or other packing.material may be: in-

-serted 1in the cylinder within the nipple.

lThe packiiigA apparatus inclu-des a plunger diameter for forcing Asshown herein this plunger is adapted-to cooperate Withthe cylinderformed in the nipple- 15. The end of the plungervis preferably 'cupIshaped providing aA relatively-thin edge which tends lto hug theWalls-of the cooperating cylinder however the latter may be formed Meansfor driving or jacking` the plunger with .su'meicnt power to force thelead or other-paclringnniterial into 'the joint are furnished and arefherein shown as a hydraulic apparatus comprisingc a cylinder casing 25containing `a pistoniG attached directly to the outer end of the-plunger24.

PortsA 27 and" 28.in the-head andf'side' of the cylinder` respectivelyare connectedby pipeswith a suitable valve meehanismynot shown, lbywhich Water. or other fluidunder pressure maybe admittedto or Withdrawn.

ever, is preferred if they piston made su stantially smaller than thebore as may he desirable to prevent binding due to inaccuracyA inthealignment of the nipple and plunger. y

In operation a nipple may be introduced into each hole, a'slug of leador other packing inserted and the packing apparatus then connected tothenippler flanges successively and'operated tooforcethe` lead into the vjoint. Several slugs maybe successivelyiintroduced intoeach hole untilthe joint. is sufficiently packed. Preferably after the joint is.madetight af.slug of lubricant is similarlyy introduced into each4 holeforced into'the joint to lubricateY the joint and provide in the jointaV Water repellant and rust preventing element. Thenipple Orn'ipples`are then removed. andv plugs 19 inserted-,to closetheholes.` f I Thedescription ofv the particular` apparatus shown is illustrative 'merelyAandy is not intended as defining. the limits of the invention.

I claim: l. In apparatus for in vcombination .a v nipple having itsexterior tapered andthreaded for a portion-of its length to t avcorrespondingly,tapered-and threaded. holeY inra pipe iange, said nipplehaving. at its outer end a segmental flange,

afplunger operable in thebore of the nipple to 'force packing intothejoint, and plunger actuatingnmeans having. hooks removably attachable tof said` segmental flange of the nipple. v v Y i 2. Asa-n.A article ofmanufacture, arnipple tapered for a portion of' threaded for a portionof'itsv length having a smooth bore adapted to receivev a plunger, saidnipple having at its outer end a segmental( flange for attachmenttoplunger actuatingmeans.

and f packing pipe joints Y its length andv In testimony whereof, I'have signed my y name to this specification this 20th day of March,1923.n

- rennen E. CHAPMAN;

